Ottawa decision opens door for HST increase in N.S.
Posted Dec 11, 2009 06:51:05 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Harmonized sales tax has gotten a green light from the house of commons and Nova Scotia’s finance minister says he’s looking at a possible increase to our HST.
Finance Minister Graham Steele says he’s closely watching what is happening in British Columbia and Ontario.
“Really all that does is remove a potential obstacle, it doesn’t mean we’re going to do it or not,” says Steele.
“It’s just under the existing agreement we don’t have the power to increase the HST on our own, and this potentially gives us the power to do that if it is in fact the way we decide to go.”
Wednesday, the house of commons voted overwhelmingly in favour of a harmonized sales tax in the two provinces.
Steele says they still have a lot of consultation to do before making any changes.
Steele says his NDP government is looking at whether to bring in an increase, how much it would be and when it would go ahead.
Public consultations are due to begin mid-January.
